UN OCHA Situation Report #1 on the Earthquake in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on 5th August 2018

Indonesia | August 6, 2018

1. BMKG reported an earthquake of magnitude 7 RS with the epicenter at 15 km depth and 18 km north-west of East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on Sunday, 5 August 2018 at 18.46 Western Indonesian Time. There have been a number of aftershocks, with the largest being 6.9 RS. A tsunami warning was activated with any tsunami estimated potentially to arrive onshore at around 18.48.35 hrs on the north coast of Lombok with “Alert” status which means that the local government closely monitors the early warning and asks people to avoid the coast and banks of rivers. The tsunami alert was lifted at around 20:30 WIB with some minor tsunami waves (less than 20 cm) being observed.

2. The earthquake was felt in Lombok Island, Sumbawa Island, Bali Island and up to the eastern part of East Java. Strong shakes were felt across Lombok; people rushed out of their houses. Electricity service has been disrupted in some areas. It is estimated that many buildings are likely to have been damaged in Lombok, including in the capital, Mataram City. In general damage to buildings will be caused by the fact that they have not been constructed using techniques resistant to level VI and above MMI whereas the shaking in Mataram is likely to have been level VII.

3. At 4am WIB on 6 August BNPB’s spokesperson stated that 82 people have died with hundreds injured and thousands of buildings damaged. The Spokesperson confirmed these numbers are expected to rise as search and rescue teams and other first responders continue their work.

4. OCHA is in touch with the national disaster management agency (BNPB), who informs us that a team from the agency was already on the ground providing support following last week’s earthquake. Additionally the head of BNPB and BNPB officials arrived in North Lombok overnight. Additional logistics and equipment assistance is immediately being sent including two helicopters to support evacuation of emergency cases. BNPB, the local disaster management offices, the army, the police, the national search and rescue agency, the Ministries of Public Works, Health, Social Affairs, together with NGOs, volunteers and others continue to carry out emergency response work, with a priority focus on search and rescue and medical treatment for the injured. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) will dispatch additional troops and assistance, especially health assistance, namely medical personnel, medicine, logistics, tents and communication equipment this morning. Nine members of Humanitarian Forum Indonesia as well as the Indonesian Red Cross and other national civil society organisations were already providing assistance to people in Lombok affected by last week’s earthquake.

5. Current urgent needs are defined by BNPB as medical personnel, clean water, food, blankets, mats, tents, fast food, trauma healing services and other basic needs. Schools in the areas of North Lombok, East Lombok, and Mataram will be closed on 6 August because it is feared that school buildings may be unsafe – safety checks will be undertaken prior to schools reopening.